A market test alternative for credit cards

This is a variation on the theme I cover periodically called Vendor Relationship Management (VRM).

The variation here is that the Vendor must place the consumers product up for bif from competition when they are considering changing the terms, such as interest rates. The consumer would then have the choice of accepting the change, or accepting one of bidders. (HT Payments News)

We have an alternative solution, employing a market test of a proposed change. At the time when the lender proposes a unilateral change, it would be required to put the existing account balance up for auction on a LendingTree-like service that would allow other credit card issuers to bid for a chance to issue a new card and take over the existing balance.

Borrowers wouldn’t be forced to switch to the auction winner. They’d just be given the option. When an existing credit card issuer proposes a rate increase, it would be required to pass on the terms of the winning bid and a comparison with its own terms, and the borrower would decide whether he wanted to make the switch.